| Date |
Topic(s) |
Assigned Readings |
| January 7 |
- Composition of the atmosphere
- Discussion of chemistry
- Layers of the atmosphere (vertical structure)
| 2-10 |
| January 9 |
- The Ozone Layer
- Differences between climate and weather
- Meteorologists - more than just TV weathermen/women
| 11-24 |
| January 12 |
- Energy and heat
- Sources of heat in the atmosphere (latent heat, etc.)
- Heat transfer in the atmosphere
| 30-37 |
| January
14 | - Radiation
- Absorption, Emission, Equilibrium
- Global Energy Balance
- The Greenhouse Effect
| 38-47 |
| January 16 |
- Earth-Sun Relations
- Seasons
- Daily Temperature Variations
| 58-71 |
| January 19 | No class in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday | -- |
| January 21 |
- Measuring Air Temperature
- Thermometers
- Temperature Scales
- The Ideal Gas Relation - Pressure, temperature, and density
| 78-82 |
| January
23 |
- Atmospheric Optics - behavior of light in the atmosphere
- Reflection/refraction
- Rainbows, Sun Dogs, Halos, etc.
| 87-107 |
| January 26 |
- Water Vapor in the Atmosphere
- Humidity/Vapor Pressure
- Dew Point
- Saturation
| 118-128 |
| January 28 |
Liquid water in the atmosphere; Clouds, Dew, and Fog | 131-140 |
| January 30 |
Cloud classification and identification | 142-151 |
| February 2 |
- Satellite Meteorology - Interpreting Satellite Pictures
- Modern Satellite Missions - TRMM, GOES, etc.
| 152-162 |
| February 4 | Examination #1 | -- |
| February 6 |
- Stability
- Weather Balloons and Skew-T Diagrams
| 167-187 |
| February
9 |
- More on Stability
and Skew-T Diagrams
| 192-204 |
| February 11 |
- Precipitation: Special types
- Freezing rain, sleet, hail
- Weather Radar
| 205-213 |
| February 13 |
Focus on Air Pressure
More on the Ideal Gas ExpressionBarometers | 218-223 |
| February 16 |
- Weather map analysis - isotherms and isobars
- The atmosphere in motion - wind
- Gradients
| 224-233 |
| February 18 |
- Centrifugal Forces
- The Coriolis Force
- The Geostrophic Wind
| 234-241 |
| February 20 |
- Pressure Variation with height - The Hydrostatic Equation
- Convergence / Divergence
- Distance between two pressure levels - The Hypsometric Equation
|
242-243 |
| February 23 |
- Convergence / Divergence
- Vectors
- Station Models
| 248-257 |
| February 25 |
- Measuring wind speed - anemometers, wind vanes, aerovanes
- Wind Shear
- Pilot Weather Balloons
- Vorticity
| 258-262 |
| February 27 |
- Seasonal and Geographic Winds
- Monsoons, Northeasters, Chinooks, etc.
- The Lake Effect Snow Machine
| 263-278 |
| March 2 |
| 284-298 |
| March 4 |
Examination #2 | -- |
| March 6 |
Discussion of Examination #2 |
| March 9 - March 13 |
Spring Recess - No Classes | -- |
| March 16 |
- Air Masses and Fronts
- Frontal formation
| 311-332 |
| March 18 |
- Front Classification
- Frontal behavior
| 311-332 |
| March 20 |
Mid-Latitude Cyclones | 336-348 |
| March 23 |
- Thunderstorms
- Hail, lightning, thunder
| 394-411 |
| March 25 |
Thunderstorms and Hail | 412-426 |
| March 27 |
- Hurricanes
- Formation, movement
| 430-445 |
| March 30 |
- Hurricanes
- Remarkable hurricanes, more facts
| 430-445 |
| April 1 |
MOVIE: The Weather Channel's DANGER'S EDGE | -- |
| April 3 |
- Air Pollution
- Obnoxious gases
| 450-460 |
| April 6 |
- Environmental Issues
- Acid Rain, The Ozone Hole, The Greenhouse Effect
| TBA |
| April
8 |
Examination #3 | -- |
| April 10 |
- Weather Forecasting
- Techniques
| 364-388 |
| April 13 |
Review of Exam #3 |
| April 15 |
- Weather Forecasting
- Advisories and Warnings
- Aviation Weather
| TBA |
| April 17 |
Weather Records and
unusual happenings from around the world | TBA |
| April 20 |
- Planetary Meteorology
- A study of the atmospheres of our neighbors in the Solar System
| 10 |
| April 22 |
More on Planetary Meteorology | -- |
| April
24 |
- Review Session for Final Exam
| -- |